These words aren’t so much of a warning as they are a statement of reality. Jesus was sharing some final thoughts with his disciples on the night of his arrest. He felt it necessary to remind them that the world brings trouble with it. At least ever since Adam and Eve fell to the temptations of Satan in the garden all those years ago. Since that time there had been trouble in the home ask Jacob. There had been trouble among religious leaders – ask Eli about his sons. There had been trouble among leaders of kingdoms – ask Saul, David, and Solomon. There had been trouble for those attempting to do right – ask Daniel and his three friends. Difficulties are just part of the landscape of humanity. It would be no different for the apostles or the church in general. There would be trouble. Persecutions were part of it. If they hated Jesus, they would hate those who followed him. But there are other troubles, too. There is sickness and death. There are financial concerns. There are losses of jobs and friendships.
“In this world you will have trouble….but be of good cheer….” That seems an odd statement, doesn’t it? Trouble and cheer…tribulation and joy…they don’t seem to go together. And they really don’t without the last part. It’s the part of that statement that makes all the difference. “In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The disciples and the early church could rejoice in the hard times because they knew they were only temporary. At the end of that tribulation is rejoicing because it has either strengthened our faith by causing us to put that trust in Him or we will have been freed from this body and received a greater one in eternity. Paul would later say, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
This world isn’t perfect and difficulties are inevitable. But Jesus wants you to know the same thing He told his disciples. He has overcome Satan. He has overcome death. He has overcome the world. So whatever it is you are going through right now, you can still experience peace and joy in the hardest part…because He has overcome.
–Selected